Tourist boom predicted for Bradford district as Yorkshire shines for Tour de France

THE Bradford district is set to benefit from a boost in the public awareness of Yorkshire following the biggest Grand Départ in the history of the Tour de France.

More than a third of the UK’s population had their opinions on Yorkshire positively changed - thanks to the historic event, with a quarter now wanting to visit the county, according to the results of a ResearchBods study released today.

It also showed that three quarters of the county want tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, who led the winning bid, to go for more sporting events to be held within the county.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for culture, said thousands of 'Discover Bradford' booklets had been given out at spectator hubs during the tour, with a poster campaign promoting the district going out across the North and the Midlands next week.

"Feedback and information is still coming in, but anecdotal information from our visitor centres tells us that there has been a big increase in visitor numbers, not just for the event itself, but for the week after the event," she said.

"Some of this is people who have decided to stay longer in the district, and some is local people who are now wanting to buy Tour de France souvenirs, which have really flown off the shelves.

"The whole of the Tour was one long advert for Yorkshire, it's the kind of advertising we could never hope to afford, so it's important we now capitalise on that and encourage people to come back for more."

Event organisers the ASO, riders, teams and media were "amazed" by the crowds they witnessed during the Yorkshire Grand Départ.

Bernard Hinault, a five time winner of the Tour, said he had never seen crowds as big in over 40 years in the sport, while Christian Prudhomme, director of Le Tour, said that he believed there could have been up to five million spectators over the two days.

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Welcome to Yorkshire’s official Grand Départ website had 2.5 million page views from 190 countries during the race weekend, with exceptionally large traffic from Australia, USA, France, Canada and the Netherlands.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The passion, the crowds and the support that Yorkshire demonstrated for the Tour to the watching world were mind-blowing.

"The economic benefit to the county is being conservatively estimated to be in excess of £100m, but could well be more.

"Whatever the final figure, it was the images of Yorkshire and its amazing landscapes being beamed around the world which will prove priceless in the months and years ahead.

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“This is the start of a journey for Yorkshire, not the end of one."

A new international cycle race is now being planned for the county, dubbed the Tour of Yorkshire, which could see three days of racing delivered by Welcome to Yorkshire, ASO and British Cycling from May 1 to 3, 2015.

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Comments (13)

Tourist boom predicted for Bradford district as Yorkshire shines for Tour de France

collos25 says...5:01pm Fri 11 Jul 14

I really hope so but the way some firms exploited the situation I think some people will think twice before coming.

I really hope so but the way some firms exploited the situation I think some people will think twice before coming.collos25

I really hope so but the way some firms exploited the situation I think some people will think twice before coming.

Score: 1

bcfc1903 says...7:25pm Fri 11 Jul 14

With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.

With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.bcfc1903

With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.

Score: -4

collos25 says...7:50pm Fri 11 Jul 14

Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .

Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .collos25

Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .

Score: -12

sunnysidedown says...8:08pm Fri 11 Jul 14

The Tour didn't come through Bradford, and Keighley was blanked from our screens. All for very good reasons. Bradford District might, just might, benefit, but the City of Bradford, the important bit, won't.

The Tour didn't come through Bradford, and Keighley was blanked from our screens. All for very good reasons. Bradford District might, just might, benefit, but the City of Bradford, the important bit, won't.sunnysidedown

The Tour didn't come through Bradford, and Keighley was blanked from our screens. All for very good reasons. Bradford District might, just might, benefit, but the City of Bradford, the important bit, won't.

Score: 8

baildongreen says...8:13pm Fri 11 Jul 14

Councillor Hinchcliffe said thousands (how many two, three?) of 'Discover Bradford' booklets had been given out. Wonderful. There were millions lining the routes and even more watching on TV. Is this the best she can do? Where is her sense of occasion?

Councillor Hinchcliffe said thousands (how many two, three?) of 'Discover Bradford' booklets had been given out. Wonderful. There were millions lining the routes and even more watching on TV. Is this the best she can do? Where is her sense of occasion?baildongreen

Councillor Hinchcliffe said thousands (how many two, three?) of 'Discover Bradford' booklets had been given out. Wonderful. There were millions lining the routes and even more watching on TV. Is this the best she can do? Where is her sense of occasion?

Score: 3

ChanningCross says...8:19pm Fri 11 Jul 14

This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.

This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.ChanningCross

This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.

Score: 19

Tyrelleon says...8:26pm Fri 11 Jul 14

ChanningCross wrote…

This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.

I agree completely. These days Bradford is such a wonderful tourist destination. People have just to wake up to us. We have so much to offer every kind of visitor. This transformation is entirely down to the hard work that Councillor Hinchcliffe and her team at Visit Bradford have put in. Distributing leaflets was a master stroke. I think the Council should declare a Councillor Hinchliffe day just as a small way of saying thank you.

[quote][p][bold]ChanningCross[/bold] wrote:
This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.[/p][/quote]I agree completely. These days Bradford is such a wonderful tourist destination. People have just to wake up to us. We have so much to offer every kind of visitor.
This transformation is entirely down to the hard work that Councillor Hinchcliffe and her team at Visit Bradford have put in. Distributing leaflets was a master stroke. I think the Council should declare a Councillor Hinchliffe day just as a small way of saying thank you.Tyrelleon

ChanningCross wrote…

This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.

I agree completely. These days Bradford is such a wonderful tourist destination. People have just to wake up to us. We have so much to offer every kind of visitor. This transformation is entirely down to the hard work that Councillor Hinchcliffe and her team at Visit Bradford have put in. Distributing leaflets was a master stroke. I think the Council should declare a Councillor Hinchliffe day just as a small way of saying thank you.

Score: -4

bcfc1903 says...8:41pm Fri 11 Jul 14

collos25 wrote…

Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .

If you say so....should I call the bomb squad? With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.

[quote][p][bold]collos25[/bold] wrote:
Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .[/p][/quote]If you say so....should I call the bomb squad?
With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.bcfc1903

collos25 wrote…

Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .

If you say so....should I call the bomb squad? With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.

Score: -6

Alhaurinrhino says...10:04pm Fri 11 Jul 14

ChanningCross wrote…

This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.

This made me a little bit sick.

[quote][p][bold]ChanningCross[/bold] wrote:
This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.[/p][/quote]This made me a little bit sick.Alhaurinrhino

ChanningCross wrote…

This is such good news for Bradford. Along with the City Park, the Odeon redevelopment, the new office blocks, and the underground shops the city is becoming soooo much better and the thousands of tourists that are coming will really enjoy our new look city. We should be grateful for all the effort our hard working Council is putting into regenerating Bradford, especially Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe who is responsible for most of the good things happening in Bradford.

This made me a little bit sick.

Score: 5

Hoggy64 says...10:26pm Fri 11 Jul 14

Although pleased for the publicity Yorkshire got, in terms of the economic benefits many businesses (mine included) that weren't on the route suffered massively from a drop in customers as everyone seemed to attend the event. Financially for us it was a complete disaster. Let's hope these promised additional tourists do arrive!

Although pleased for the publicity Yorkshire got, in terms of the economic benefits many businesses (mine included) that weren't on the route suffered massively from a drop in customers as everyone seemed to attend the event. Financially for us it was a complete disaster. Let's hope these promised additional tourists do arrive!Hoggy64

Although pleased for the publicity Yorkshire got, in terms of the economic benefits many businesses (mine included) that weren't on the route suffered massively from a drop in customers as everyone seemed to attend the event. Financially for us it was a complete disaster. Let's hope these promised additional tourists do arrive!

Score: 3

Thee Voice of Reason says...12:57pm Sat 12 Jul 14

collos25 wrote…

Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .

How do we know it hasn't already happened. You can barely tell and difference.

[quote][p][bold]collos25[/bold] wrote:
Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .[/p][/quote]How do we know it hasn't already happened. You can barely tell and difference.Thee Voice of Reason

collos25 wrote…

Here speaks the voice of BMDC if a 100 ton bomb dropped on the City this guy would put a glossy report into the TA .

How do we know it hasn't already happened. You can barely tell and difference.

Score: -15

Apollo says...6:09pm Sun 13 Jul 14

Bradford will not benefit one jot from the TDF. It had nothing to do with the city and was very deliberately kept well away from Bradford. Only a complete fool would believe that tourists are heading here.

Bradford will not benefit one jot from the TDF. It had nothing to do with the city and was very deliberately kept well away from Bradford.
Only a complete fool would believe that tourists are heading here.Apollo

Bradford will not benefit one jot from the TDF. It had nothing to do with the city and was very deliberately kept well away from Bradford. Only a complete fool would believe that tourists are heading here.

Score: 0

bcfc1903 says...6:50pm Tue 15 Jul 14

With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.

With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.bcfc1903

With attractions such as the Media Museum (Bradford being the worlds first UNESCO City of Film), The Alhambra, City Park, over 6,000 listed buildings in the City of Bradford, Little Germany, The UNESCO World Heritage site at Saltaire, Ilkley and the Cow and Calf rocks, Bronte Country, Haworth, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Parsonage, Bradford is well placed to tap into any boost of public awareness of Yorkshire on the back of the fantastic tour de France staging it's Grand Depart in our county.

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